Diverter assembly for roman tub

ABSTRACT

A roman tub faucet with a hand shower diverter mechanism integral to the tub spout. The diverter mechanism is especially suited for applications where service access to only the outer tub finished surface is practical. The faucet eliminates the need to remove panel or tile portions from the tub area for diverter mechanism service or replacement. The faucet also eliminates the need for an additional installation hole that is required for roman tub faucets with a separate diverter mechanism and tub spout.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates generally to roman tub faucets and more specifically to diverter valves that are integral to the tub spout and serviceable from the exterior of the faucet mounting surface.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] A roman tub faucet is typically mounted on a horizontal surface adjacent a tub. A conventional roman tub faucet with a hand shower utilizes a diverter valve to switch the flow of water between the spout and the hand shower. The diverter valve is typically located below the horizontal mounting surface. Often, an installed roman tub is not provided with an access panel for the faucet components that are below the mounting surface. Maintenance or replacement of a diverter valve installed in this manner requires that panels or tiles in the faucet area are removed.

[0003] What is needed is a roman tub faucet with a hand shower that incorporates a diverter valve that is serviceable above the finished horizontal surface.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The present invention is directed to a roman tub outlet assembly that incorporates a diverter valve for a hand shower. In one preferred form, the present invention provides an outlet assembly that forms a tub spout and houses a diverter valve. The diverter valve is removable from the outlet assembly by a technician who has access to only the finished surface of the tub area. In another aspect, the present invention provides a diverter assembly that is located above the finished surface of the tub area.

[0005] Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0007]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an installed roman tub outlet assembly with hand shower incorporating the diverter assembly of the present invention;

[0008]FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the roman tub assembly of FIG. 1 showing components that are located below the finished surface;

[0009]FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the diverter assembly of the present invention;

[0010]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the outlet assembly of FIG. 1 with the diverter assembly in a first position; and

[0011]FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 4 with the diverter assembly in a second position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses.

[0013] With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a roman tub faucet is generally indicated by reference numeral 10. Roman tub faucet 10 includes an outlet assembly 12, a hot water valve operator 14, a cold water valve operator 16, and a hand shower 18. Preferably, roman tub faucet 10 is mounted to a horizontal surface 20 that is adjacent a tub 22. Outlet assembly 12 includes a spout 24, a diverter assembly 26, and a knob 28. FIG. 2 illustrates components of the roman tub faucet 10 that are located below finished surface 20 including a hot water valve 30, a cold water valve 32, a body 34, an inlet or feed tube 36, a secondary outlet tube 38, and a flexible hose 40. Body 34 includes a hot water inlet 42, a cold water inlet 44, a mixer outlet 46, a secondary outlet tube connection 48, and a flexible hose connection 50. Secondary outlet tube connection 48, and flexible hose connection 50 are connected by a passageway 52 (as best seen in FIG. 4) that extends through body 34.

[0014] When assembled, hot water valve 30 is in fluid communication with a pressurized supply of hot water and hot water inlet 42. Hot water valve operator 14 is coupled to hot water valve 30. Hot water valve 30 is a conventional roman tub valve that adjusts the flow rate of hot water to body 34. Cold water valve 34 is in fluid communication with a pressurized supply of cold water and cold water inlet 44. Cold water valve operator 16 is coupled to cold water valve 32. Cold water valve 32 is a conventional roman tub valve that adjusts the flow rate of cold water to body 34. Inlet tube 36 is attached to mixer outlet 46. Secondary outlet tube 38 is coupled to secondary outlet tube connection 48, and flexible hose 40 is coupled to flexible hose connection 50 such that passageway 52 is in fluid communication with both secondary outlet tube 38, and flexible hose 40. Preferably, secondary outlet tube 38 extends concentrically through inlet tube 36. Flexible hose 40 is connected to hand shower 18 such that secondary outlet tube 38 is in fluid communication with flexible hose 40.

[0015] Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, diverter assembly 24 is located within spout 24 and operates to selectively direct fluid communication from inlet tube 36 to spout 24 or alternately to spray handle 18 via secondary outlet tube 38. Diverter assembly 26 includes a rod 60, a sealing chamber assembly 62, and an anchor 64. Sealing chamber assembly 62 includes a top coupling 66, a spring 70, a plunger 72, a seal 74, and a lower coupling 76. O-rings 80 of various diameters are utilized to provide a leak proof seal between components of roman tub faucet 10 as discussed below.

[0016] Top coupling 66 is preferably a component that defines a portion of a sealing chamber 90 at a lower end 92, a primary outlet 94 opening onto an exterior surface 96, a plunger guideway 98 intersecting the sealing chamber 90, and opening onto an upper end 100. The central portion of top coupling 66 is intersected by plunger guideway 98, primary outlet 94 and sealing chamber 90. The uppermost portion of sealing chamber 90 is defined by a frusto-conical surface 104 that opens onto primary outlet 94.

[0017] Lower coupling 76 is preferably adapted to releaseably couple at a top end 110 with top coupling 66, as best seen in FIG. 4, such that lower coupling 76 defines the lower portion of sealing chamber 90. Lower coupling 76 is a generally cylindrical component that includes an inlet 112 defined by an outer wall 114, a secondary outlet 116 with an axial passageway 118 therethrough, and an inverted frusto-coaxial surface 120 defining the lower most portion of sealing chamber 90 such that axial passageway 118 is in fluid communication with inlet 112 and primary outlet 94 via sealing chamber 90. The exterior surface 122 of secondary outlet 116 preferably has two O-ring grooves 124.

[0018] Plunger 72 includes a first end 130, a second end 132, a shaft 134, and a stop 136. Plunger 72 is adapted to slidingly retract into plunger guideway 98. Plunger 72 is coupled to rod 60 at first end 130 and to seal 74 at second end 132. Spring 70 is superposed on shaft 134 to bias plunger 72 towards lower coupling 76. Stop 136 limits the travel of spring 70 on shaft 134 and serves as a spring seat. Seal 74 is preferably constructed of a conventional polymer faucet sealing material with an annular cross section when viewed parallel to the axis of plunger 72. Seal 74 has a configuration which is complementary to surface 104, 120 to provide a fluid sealing interface therebetween.

[0019] When diverter assembly 26 is fully assembled, spring 70, plunger 72, and seal 74 are located within sealing chamber 90. Seal 74 and plunger 72 are moveable between a first position (FIG. 4) in which seal 74 is in sealing contact with inverted frusto-conical surface 120 and a second position (FIG. 5) in which seal 74 is in sealing contact with frusto-conical surface 104. In this manner, seal 74, seals against frusto-conical surface 120 thereby interrupting fluid communication between sealing chamber 90 and secondary outlet 116 when in the first position. Seal 74 also seals against frusto-conical surface 104 when in the second position, thereby interrupting fluid communication between sealing chamber 90 and primary outlet 94. As best seen in FIG. 4, seal 74 preferably cannot interrupt fluid communication between sealing chamber 90 and inlet 112. Thus provided, water that enters inlet 112 can be diverted to either primary outlet 94 or secondary outlet 116 by moving plunger 72 and seal 74 between their first and second positions.

[0020] When outlet assembly 12 is fully assembled, inlet tube 36 is in fluid communication with inlet 112, and secondary outlet tube 38 is in fluid communication with secondary outlet 116. As best seen in FIG. 4, spout 24 is in fluid communication with primary outlet 94. Plunger 72 is coupled to rod 60 which is in turn coupled to knob 28. Thus provided, seal 74 can be moved between the first and second positions by raising and lowering knob 28.

[0021] In operation, water flows into body 34 from hot and cold valves 30,32. The water mixes in body 34 and continues through inlet tube 36 and through inlet 112 of diverter assembly 26. When seal 74 is in the first position and fluid communication between sealing chamber 90 and secondary outlet 116 is interrupted, water flows from inlet 112 through sealing chamber 90 and through primary outlet 94 to spout 24 and into tub 22. When seal 74 is in the second position and fluid communication between sealing chamber 90 and primary outlet 94 is interrupted, water flows from inlet 112 through sealing chamber 90 and through secondary outlet 116 to secondary outlet tube 38 and into hand shower 18.

[0022] It would be recognized by one of ordinary skill in the art that inlet tube 36 and diverter assembly 26 combine to mix the hot and cold water such that water of an essentially consistent temperature can be supplied to either spout 24 or hand shower 18. The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A roman tub outlet assembly comprising: an inlet tube; a primary outlet spout; a secondary outlet flow tube; and a diverter assembly adapted to seal in both a first and second position, wherein said outlet assembly is adapted to be mounted to a substantially horizontal surface with a portion of said outlet assembly located below said substantially horizontal surface and wherein said diverter assembly is located above said substantially horizontal surface.
 2. The outlet assembly of claim 1, wherein said diverter assembly comprises: a sealing chamber having an inlet area, a primary outlet having fluid communication with said primary outlet spout, and a secondary outlet in fluid communication with said secondary outlet flow tube; a plunger at least partially disposed through said sealing chamber, and moveable between the first position and the second position; and a sealing member located within said sealing chamber and attached to said plunger, said sealing member adapted to seal said secondary outlet when said plunger is in said first position thereby permitting fluid communication through said sealing chamber between said inlet and said primary outlet, and said sealing member further adapted to seal said primary outlet when said plunger is in said second position thereby permitting fluid communication between said inlet and said secondary outlet.
 3. The outlet assembly of claim 2, wherein said plunger is biased in said second position in reaction to water pressure within said sealing chamber exerted upon said sealing member.
 4. The outlet assembly of claim 2, further comprising a spring biasing said plunger toward said first position.
 5. The outlet assembly of claim 2, wherein the sealing member is adapted to seat on a frusto-conical surface.
 6. The outlet assembly of claim 2, wherein said sealing chamber assembly is removably coupled to said outlet assembly.
 7. The outlet assembly of claim 2, wherein the inlet tube is coaxial with said plunger.
 8. The outlet assembly of claim 1, wherein the inlet tube is adapted to mix liquids from at least two sources.
 9. The outlet assembly of claim 1, wherein said secondary outlet flow tube extends through said inlet tube.
 10. The outlet assembly of claim 9, wherein said secondary outlet flow tube is coaxial with said inlet tube.
 11. A faucet for a roman tub comprising: a diverter mechanism including: a sealing chamber having an inlet area, a primary outlet having fluid communication with a primary outlet spout; and a secondary outlet in fluid communication with a secondary outlet flow tube; a plunger at least partially disposed through said sealing chamber, and moveable between a first position and a second position; and a sealing member located within said sealing chamber and attached to said plunger, said sealing member adapted to seal said secondary outlet when said plunger is in said first position thereby permitting fluid communication through said sealing chamber between said inlet and said primary outlet, and said sealing member further adapted to seal said primary outlet when said plunger is in said second position thereby permitting fluid communication between said inlet and said secondary outlet, wherein said faucet is adapted to be mounted to a finished surface with at least a portion of said faucet extending below said finished surface and the primary outlet spout located above said finished surface, and said diverter mechanism is adapted to be serviceable from a location above said finished surface.
 12. The faucet of claim 11, wherein said diverter mechanism is located above said finished surface.
 13. The faucet of claim 11, wherein said plunger is biased in said second position in reaction to water pressure within said sealing chamber exerted upon said sealing member.
 14. The faucet of claim 11, further comprising a spring biasing said plunger toward said first position.
 15. The faucet of claim 11, wherein the sealing member is adapted to seat on a frusto-conical surface. 